“At first, I just read a lot, especially about American history. For about the past decade I’ve been engaged in an intensive, personal quest to learn everything I can about foreign and domestic policy, and I’ve devoted a good deal of time to military history and current thinking. I think I’m probably better prepared for high office than anyone in this country who hasn’t made a career of politics, and a great many who have.”

“If you’re interested in the presidency, why haven’t you made a career of politics, worked your way up through elected office?”

“Because I think that the Senate, and to an even greater extent the House, produces too many people who think they’re ready to be President, and not nearly enough who really are ready. The real work there is done by staff, and the elected members spend most of their time raising money for their next election. They have too little time to read, to study in depth, and to think. I made myself financially secure by building a company in my youth, so I’ve been able to set aside time to study and to learn from people who’ve been there and done that, whereas most businesspeople just devote themselves to making more money they don’t really need.”

“How do you divide your time?”

“I start at eight AM with a staff meeting to review the products we’re offering that day on television, then I have some lunch and spend my afternoon reading or studying policy. Around midnight I review what I have to say on our nightly television program, then I go on air, and afterward read some more.”

“And when do you sleep?”

“I have a peculiar lack of a need for deep sleep. It’s genetic—my father was the same way. I don’t sleep more than a couple of hours a night, though I catch a catnap or two during the day. Since I’m in excellent physical condition, I’m able to devote myself to a much longer workday than anyone I know. My business staff is divided into day and night people, and I have another staff that is devoted entirely to researching policy and political issues. If I should run for President and win, that group would form the core of a White House staff, and they’d be ready to go on day one, as would I.”

They talked on, then came to the end of part one of the program, and Shawn announced that they would continue the program from Knott’s Washington, D.C., offices.

Then the third part moved to Knott’s New York City apartment.

Near the end Shawn put another question to Knott. “What do you think of the performance of Katharine Lee in office?”